3 On Your Side: Robin Williams' Death Prompts Click-Jacking Warning
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The death of Robin Williams stunned millions of people around the world and a warning is being issued about scammers trying to take advantage of the situation. 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan learned how social media users should avoid becoming a victim of "click-jacking."
The lovable comedian was adored across the globe, and when word of his death spread, people immediately began posting messages on Facebook and Twitter. But some of those posts aren't what they appear to be.
"Social media posts are being provided linking to video claiming its unreleased police footage from the time of his death or information where you can see his last words before he died," said Caitlin Driscoll of the Better Business Bureau.
But if you click on those links it takes you somewhere you don't expect. It's a scam known as "click-jacking."
"If you do click it will either likely lead you to a video player where it asks you to download the latest version in order to view the information. You're really just downloading a virus or it may take you to a survey that you have to complete. By doing that they'll have your information that they can sell to companies for solicitations and you'll just end up being put on a number of different spam lists," said Driscoll.
Click-jacking isn't something new and it doesn't always involve a sad news event like Robin Williams' death. In fact there were similar scams last year when Kate Middleton gave birth.
For more information on click-jacking visit: